Monaco Journal - News from Monaco, Monte-Carlo and the world

The world has entered a "new dark age of abuses", with the United States "raining death" on Iran and Venezuela, a UN special rapporteur said Thursday.

Two-time major-winner Collin Morikawa withdrew from The Players Championship after one hole on Thursday with a back injury.

The partnership between ravens and wolves goes back to Norse mythology -- Odin's birds scouted ahead and led prey to the god's canines, a relationship that provided food for all.

AFP reporters have been speaking to a range of people living in Iran to build a picture of life under daily US and Israeli bombardment despite an internet blackout and major communication problems.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell said that even if his side fall short of winning the Six Nations title on Saturday, beating Scotland to secure the Triple Crown would still be "pretty special".

The Polish Bishop's Conference on Thursday announced plans to establish an "independent" commission to investigate child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

Top economic officials from the United States and China are set to convene in Paris, the Treasury Department said Thursday, ahead of President Donald Trump's planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in April.

Danish superchef Rene Redzepi -- whose Noma restaurant was long regarded as the world's best -- said he was stepping down Thursday after allegations that he abused and bullied staff for years.

Oil prices soared above $100 and stock markets extended losses as Iran's new supreme leader ordered the Strait of Hormuz to be kept closed.

Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, as it threatened to expand operations and seize territory in Lebanon if Hezbollah did not stop its attacks.

Indie rock star Morrissey cancelled a concert in Spain's Valencia on Thursday because the din from the city's traditional pyrotechnics festival left him "catatonic" with sleep deprivation.

Iran's new supreme leader ordered his forces to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane shut on Thursday, as Tehran launched more devastating attacks on Gulf energy targets that sent global oil prices soaring.

Former Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line alone after an impressive 21km solo break for his second win in two days in stage five of the Paris-Nice race on Thursday.

A spat over huge EU defence loans has erupted into trench warfare between Poland's pro-European government and nationalist president.

Tottenham have extended the deadline for fans to renew their season tickets because of the growing threat of relegation from the Premier League.

Two crew on the USS Gerald R. Ford -- the world's largest aircraft carrier currently deployed for the war against Iran -- were injured Thursday in a laundry room fire, the US Navy said.

Boubacar Ould Messaoud, a rights activist who fought incessantly to wipe out slavery in his native Mauritania, died on Thursday in the capital Nouakchott aged 80, a representative of his NGO told AFP.

Broken computer monitors in bombed-out offices, scattered fake police uniforms and phoney hundred-dollar bills: these were the vestiges of a frantic escape of suspected cyberscammers fleeing a resort on the Cambodia-Thailand border.

Chile's Smiljan Radic Clarke, whose modern buildings can sometimes appear "deliberately unfinished," is the recipient of this year's Pritzker Prize, considered the Nobel of architecture, organizers announced Thursday.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said on Thursday the destination of the Six Nations title was "out of their hands" as his team chase glory in Ireland.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell has recalled stalwarts Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier to the starting XV for the Six Nations Triple Crown decider with Scotland on Saturday.

Chelsea's Pedro Neto is set to be punished by UEFA for pushing a ball boy during his team's 5-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after European football's governing body announced on Thursday it had opened disciplinary proceedings.

Men and women sit on the graves of their loved ones at a Shia Muslim cemetery in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, reciting verses from the Quran.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was snapped up by Sunrisers Leeds -- a Hundred franchise with links to the Indian Premier League -- on Thursday despite fears Pakistani players would be frozen out due to political tensions.

Iran's new supreme leader ordered the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane to remain closed on Thursday, while US President Donald Trump said stopping the Islamic republic's "evil empire" was more important than crude prices.

Lufthansa said about half its flights were cancelled Thursday as pilots from the German airline kicked off a two-day strike over pensions.

Turkey is talking to both Washington and Tehran in a bid to end the Middle East war, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday as the conflict raged for a 13th day.

Oil prices soared Thursday, briefly trading above $100, and stock markets extended losses as fresh attacks against Gulf energy targets offset the release of crude reserves by major economies.

The escalating Middle East war has raised concerns over the safety of masterpieces on loan from France to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, sparking questions about the security of the famed museum's only foreign branch.

The US military is currently "not ready" to escort tankers through the critical Strait of Hormuz because all its assets are focused on striking Iran, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday.

When an air strike hit their Beirut neighbourhood, people were angry with Israel, but they reserved their deepest rage for Hezbollah, for dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his starting side for a potentially title-deciding Six Nations clash in Ireland on Saturday.